Artists, musicians needed for annual festival

Calling all artists and musicians! The Rolla Downtown Business Association (RDBA) is encouraging area artists, musicians, photographers and wineries to participate in the Downtown Days Art & Music Festival.

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By Staff Reports

The Rolla Daily News - Rolla, MO

By Staff Reports

Posted Mar. 16, 2013 at 3:00 PM

By Staff Reports

Posted Mar. 16, 2013 at 3:00 PM

ROLLA

Calling all artists and musicians! The Rolla Downtown Business Association (RDBA) is encouraging area artists, musicians, photographers and wineries to participate in the Downtown Days Art & Music Festival.

The event will be held from 4 – 7 p.m. on Friday, May 17 and from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. The event coincides with the City of Rolla Public Works Day on Saturday.

“We’re also featuring our restaurants and entertainment well into the evening,” said RDBA treasurer Jodi Layman.

“We want people to know that we have something for everyone the entire weekend.”

Downtown Days was created by business owners Marilynn Langston and Marie Sulze four years ago to focus on the variety of businesses downtown in the Business District and the Arts & Entertainment District, while showcasing the talents of area residents.

“We love to show off our unique businesses, but we also wanted to provide an opportunity for guest to walk around downtown, sampling refreshments and see the amazing art and photography, while enjoying the music by our talented local musicians,” Langston said. “We’re hoping to attract alot of people to participate and exhibit their work. This has become a very popular venue for the entire family.”

Arts Rolla! is partnering with RDBA to coordinate placing the artists in the businesses. Many of the musicians enjoy playing outside the businesses, weather permitting.

The Ozark Shutter Junkies is lending a hand to coordinate the various photographers who will have their work on display.

RDBA will produce flyers and maps so that residents know which of the 130 downtown businesses will be participating.

“We’re working with the area wineries to host wine tastings,” Layman explained. “Our restaurants and bars will be offering music and food venues at their downtown locations.”

RDBA is encouraging anyone interested in showcasing their work to contact the RDBA president Lonna Sowers at (573) 364-8600 or Jodi Layman at PCB (573) 426-5148. The deadline for registering is March 31.